Training Log Archive: Anvil

Had to go into work, so decided to ride in to start working out the best route for summer.
This wasn't it. Got lost. Lot's of traffic lights. Followed the suggested cycling routes which add 50% to the length. Next time Gadget, next time.

Got to work to discover I had no bag on my back, thus no kit. Stressed all day I'd left it at the tube platform and would have been destroyed by the bomb squad, so was happy to get home and find the bag on the floor.
So it was just a bit of a jaunt around the streets - tried to do a new loop, the 3 bridges, but the next bridge after Wandsworth is a rail bridge with no pedestrian access so had to retrace my steps which I hate.
Odd run, for the first 1/2 hour felt really sleepy and hazy, but came good in the next half and felt pretty strong. Days off rule.
Best part about the run was seeing an exact Colonel Sanders (or Colonel Doctor for Scrubs fanatics) lookalike. I would have asked for a photo if I'd had a camera.
IPod was also in good form too, 'Right here, right now' is the best thing Fatboy Slim has done. I could run forever with that on repeat.

Another loop around Epsom Common. Big case of cbf today - to to the first hilltop of the common and lay down in the sun and watched the clouds zoom by for five minutes or so. Almost just ran back after that, but decided to add 1 min on/off surges to make it more interesting. It didn't.
Started to feel better and in a good rhythm with about a km to go - of course.

Think the lack of energy is coming from lack of sleep, and it's not gonna get any better for the next fortnight. To get all the work that need to be done by Easter, we've been told they're gonna keep the office open till 11 and all weekend. Lucky I'm a dirty contactor and paid by the hour. (I'd make £3.50 if I chared for writing this, but I'm not *that* greedy!)

The surges. Conveniently downhill on all but one!

Easy run around Epsom Common to stretch the legs after yesterday.
Fairly tight for the first five minutes, but came good after that - didn't really feel like I'd raced at all.
Still can't find the 'Roman Diggings' that all the info signs talk about at the Common entrances no matter how many piddly little tracks through blackberries and brambles I dick around on. Starting to suspect they're overgrown with bracken.
Wore my new Craft top I picked up half price yesterday. Performed very nicely - I'm converted. I'm in awe of the variety or stuff you can buy for just a regional event here - way more than what you'd be able to get at an Aus Champs or Easter.

Event: LOK Holmbury Hill Regional Event
 

First race of this distance where I've felt good the whole way. Had a plan to try and take it steady and keep a constant pace the whole way, so of course as soon as I turned the map over I bolted off down the hill and it wasn't till I started running up out of 8 that I realised and steadied off a bit.
Not an overly taxing course, lots of tracks to keep you say and a lot of really well mapped rhododendrun thickets to keep you on line in the forest, which was pretty vague in places. Apart from some hesitancy in the circle and getting dragged off by another runner at #2 there were no major mistakes.
Forest was excellent, generally nice and easy to run through - in typical Brit fashion, everyone just tells you how bad it'll be in the summer once the bracken starts to grow again!
Looking forward to JK as the middle distance day is on an adjacent map which has a lot more technical earthworks.

To/From Gomshall station to the assembly area via the pub on the way home.
Why is the start always uphill?